Control mechanism for power operated gear shifting apparatus



Sept. 16, 1941.

G. MEYER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATEED GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l 6 2 28 8 9a 14 g v3 12 11 u 37 10 Int Q0602":

Sept. 16, 1941. MEYER 2,256,440

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 50, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mu WM 6 91 183 Fig}; 89 as a;

92 4 H m i i 37 an nr///////fl/ r 4 Inventor:-

GuszA v N: YER

.CONTROL MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet s Fig-.5 I

Inventor":

6051A v NEVER Hit arncy Sept. 16, 1941.

G. MEYER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED GEAR 'SHIFTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 50, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y W 24 n E e v. r V 54 0 Ami 3w 3 M w 6 9 .&w ,6

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs CONTROL MECHANISM'FOR. POWER OPER- ATED GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS Gustav Meyer, Fricdrichshafen, Bodensee, Gel:-

many, assignor to Maybach-Motoren'bau G. m. b. H., Friedrlchshai'en, Bodensee, Germany Application October 30, 1937, Serial No. 172,019

In Germany October 31, 1936 '14 claims.- (or. 137-139) This invention is directed to a control device l for the operating pressure medium ofapressure operated gear shifting mechanism, for use particularly with motor vehicle gear transmissions, the devicebeing of the type which is initially rendered operative to supply pressure to the shifting mechanism through movement of an operating lever and which cuts off the pressure supply as soon as a gear shift has been eifected. Such devices, as is known, involve a control valve for the shifting pressure supply which is actuatable by a suitable source of power in dependen'cy on the position of the operating lever.

The general object of the present invention is.

to provide a control device of this character which will insure proper shifting of the gears in the transmission by the shifting mechanism, so that even though the gears fail to shift promptly due to difiiculties in the transmission or because the shifting mechanism operates slowly because of sticking of the parts thereof or temporary insumciency of the shifting pressure, the gear shifting operation will be successfully completed.

The nature of the control mechanism is such that dependent upon the shifting pressure. The valve the shifting pressure and other factors such as. v

vacuum or superatmospheric, as the shifting pressure or from a diflerent source.

While; according to the invention the closing of the control valve for the shifting pressure will -be dependent upon the shifting pressure itself,

it may under some conditions be found desirable to provide additional means which willmakethe closing of the control valve also dependent upon other factors. It is a further feature of the invention to provide a multiple control which will insure the valvebeing held open and then closed at the proper time in dependency on both conditions in the gear transmission itself during the shifting operation. Such latter arrange- I ment is-of particular utility, in connection with gear transmissions employing toothed clutches for varying the gear selections, and in connection with which are provided auxiliary devices of known design to promote the rapidity of engagement of the gear parts by preliminarily slowing down a faster moving gear part and/or speeding up a slower moving gear part to' sumciently equalize their speeds that they will be in the control device for the shifting pressure, 1

once it is open, is thereafter subject to control by the shifting pressure. The valve will be held open and then closed under control of the shifting pressure. A time delay in the closing of the valve is providedior, with the view the valve will remain open for a time sumcient'for the transmission of adequate pressure tov the shitting mechanism to complete a shifting operation. The period or delay can be quite short.

In some instances the shifting pressure may act directly onjthe valve actuating mechanism. In other instances the shifting pressure may act,

indirectly to control the holding ,of the 'valve in open position and the closing thereof through means provided for that purpose. The power for actuating the control valve may be a pressure ready to engage.

The invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the various control devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereafter to be described. All of such embodiments are designed for use with gear shifting mechanisms wherein the operating pressure is a partial vacuum such as can be obtained from the intake manifold of a vehicle motor.- In all instances, also, the power for actuating the control valve in at least one 02- its directions of movement is a pressure medium, and the actuating mechanism for the control valve is designed to employ partial vacuum although it will be understood that superatmospheric pressure is equally satisfac tory for carrying, out the principles of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, mo stly in sec-' tion, of one form of control device wherein according to the invention the shifting pressure control valve is closed in dependency on the shifting pressure; 7

Figures 2 and 3 are more or less diagrammatic views illustrating exemplary forms or lever devices and associated parts for initiating operation of control devices according to the invention such as in Figures 1 and 4;

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of a control device according to the invention. difler medium from the same source, whether partial ing both in the construction of the control valve pressure and operating pressure entering tween grooves 33 and is put in communication with line l5 through Figure 6 illustrates a further form of control device utilizing a control valve similar to that in Figure 1 but employing a different form of valve actuating mechanism and utilizing a different arrangement for closing the valve in dependency on the shifting pressure, and, also, incorporating the feature of Figure 5 and certain additional features not found in the other views.

In Figure l, e indicates a supply line from a suitable source of partial vacuum, and Il isa line through which such operating pressure is transmitted to the pressure operated gear shifting mechanism (not shown) to be: actuated. Line 6 opens into a small chamber i l adjacent chamber 82. In the latter chamber is located the control valve 8 which is yieldingly held in its right end position against seat 911. by spring i6. In such position the valve cuts off chamber l4 and prevents the transmission of actuating pressure from line 6 to line ll. To open the valve pressure responsive actuating means is provided, which includes piston W in chamber 20 and slide rod IS. A port 31 is provided in the right end of chamber 20 and piston IT is normally held in its right end position through valve spring l8.

Actuating pressure, here partial vacuum, from a suitable source enters the control device through line 8. As will be more fully understood from the subsequent description of Figures 2 and 3, the transmission of operating pressure through line i is made dependent on a lever operated valve which, when the lever is moved in one direction, will supply partial vacuum to line I, and which when the lever is moved back in the other direction will cut ofi the supply. The through line I passes through groove 33 in slide valve 3| into line l5, and from thence through groove 32 in slide valve 33 into line 25, and finally to chamber 20 to act on piston it. With the position of the parts as shown in the drawings pressure is being supplied to chamber 28 and piston I1 is readyto move to the left to open valve 8 and allow the shifting pressure entering through line 6 to pass to the gear shifting mechanism through line H.

Communicating with valve chamber i2 is a line 2 having two branches 6 and 3. Line 4 in turn has two branches i and 5. Branch 1 communicates with chamber 22 in which operates piston 3 for moving slide valve 3|. A port 39 is provided in the-right end of chamber 22, and a spring 2 serves to yieldingly hold piston 89 in its right end position. A port 58 is provided in the casing at the left end of slide rod 3!. Besides groove 33 there is a second groove 35 in slide valve 3|. The second branch, 5, of line' 4 from valve chamber I2 is in the position shown by the portion of the slide valve between grooves 33 and 35. When such valve is moved to the left by piston IS," the actuating pressure line i is closed by the portion of the slide valve be- 35, and at such time line groove 35.

Besides line 4, line 3 branches from line 2 and receives therethrough shifting pressure from valve chamber i2. Line 3 opens through a throttling orifice 2'21 into a chamber 28, which in turn communicates through port 29 with chamber 2|. In the latter chamber operates piston l8 for actuating slide valve 33. Port 38 is provided at the right end of chamber 2|, and piston 23 is yieldinglyheld in its right end position by spring 23.

In the position of slide valve 30 shown, groove 32 provides communication between lines 15 and 25. When piston l8 moves such valve to the left, line is vented to the atmosphere by means of vent port 36 through a second groove 34 in the slide valve. At the same time line i5 is closed by the portion of valve lying betweengrooves 32 and 36. A port 26 is provided in the housing at the left end of slide valve 36. The various parts as shown in Figure l are in their rest positions. When the gear shifting mechanism is to be actuated to produce a change in the gear selection'in a gear transmission, the lever heretofore referred to will be moved to cause partial vacuum to be transmitted through line i. Such actuating pressure will immediately be transmitted through lines l5 and 25 to chamber 23 and piston II will quickly move to the left to open valve 8.- Shifting pressure will then be supplied to line it from line 6;

As soon as valve 8 opens shifting pressure will be transmitted through line 2. Such pressure will'pass through lines 4 and i into chamber 22 to quickly move piston l9 to the left, closing line l and establishing communication between lines 5 and i5 through groove 35f While the supply of actuating pressure from line I to piston H is cut off, shifting pressure from valve cham-' ber 12 will now be transmitted through lines 2, l, 5, l5 and 25 to chamber 20 to cause piston I! to remain in its left end' position. Thus, it will. be seen that as contemplated by the invention once control valve 8 has been opened by the actuating pressure from line i, it will thereafter be held open by the shifting pressure from line 6 and chamber 12.

At the same time that shifting pressure is transmitted through line 2 to branch 4, it is also transmitted through branch 3 to chamber M by means of chamber 28 and port 29. There is, however, some delay even though slight beforesuflicient partial vacuum is attained in chamber 2! to move piston l8 by reason of the small size of the throttling orifice 2T. Orifice 21 is made sufliciently small as to insure the transmission of adequate pressure to the shift-- ing mechanism through line H before piston 18 will be actuated. As soon as the vacuum pressure in chamber 2| reaches a suflicient degree, which will be after the gear shifting operation has been completed by the shifting mechanism, piston l8 will move to the left cutting off the supply ofjshifting pressure which has been transmitted through lines 5, l5 and 25 to the actuating piston ll of control valve 8, and venting line 25 to the atmosphere through groove 3G and port 38. Thereupon the control valve 8 will close and piston l1 wfll move back to its right end position under action of spring I 0. The supply of shifting pressure from line 6 isthus cut off from line H to the shifting mechanism and also from line 2. The partial vacuum transmitted to chambers 21 and 22 will 7 be quickly dissipated by leakage through ports 38 and 39 and pistons l8 and I8 will move back to their right end positions under action of their springs. The control device is now ready for a new shifting operation as soon as the operating lever is depressed to again initiate the supply of actuating pressure through line I.

It will be understood that the operation of pistons l9 and I8 depends on the shifting pressure which is present in chamber l2 as soon as valve 8 opens. Through slide valve 3| shifting pressure is supplied to directly act on piston l1 and hold valve 8 in its open -position. After a time delay dependent on the condition of the shifting pressure and the size of orifice 21, piston I8 operates to cut ofi the supply of any vacuum to piston l1 and thereupon, asthe result of the 5 shifting pressure, control valve 3 closes.

Figure 2 shows onetform of operator for the control device through which the action of the latter is initiated, the same comprising an operatinglever and a valve controlling the supply of actuating pressure for initially opening the shifting pressure control valve. The lever llll in its rest position is held against stop I03 by spring '2. source of vacuum pressure which opens into chamber 43 of valve'casing 4|. 42 is a double valve, the larger conical end of which engages seat 44 in the rest position of lever IM and closes off chamber 43 from valve chamber 45. In cham- Line 40 is a supply line from a suitable is cut oil from chamber 45 and lines I and 50 are vented through groove 48. The clutch is reengaged by the venting of line 50 and the gear shifting mechanism control ,device is rendered inoperative by the venting of line I.

A somewhat different arrangement is shownin Figure 3, although functioning for the same purpose as the arrangement shown in Figure 2. The operating lever is again indicated as llll andhaving a stop I03 and a spring I22 for holdisyieldingly held against its right seat by spring 58 and is movable to its left seat through slide rods 63 and 54 between heads 63' and 64' of which is, interposed spring 59. At the right hand end of rod 64 isa head 64" which as lever her 55 is located a valve seat 45 which engages the smaller conical end of valve 42 when the sameis in its left end position. Line I, as found in the embodiment of Figure 1, connects with chamber 55. Valve stem 41 is provided with a longitudinal groove 48, which, when the valve as shown engages seat 44, vents chamber in I line I to the atmosphere. In the left position of valve 52 groove 38 is cut oil from chamber 45.

Valve stem 51 connects with casing 5! through a suitable pin. In such casing is located a piston, or a disc 53 fitted between two compression springs'54 and 55, and fined to rod 52- which at its left end connects through a clevis with the operating lever 8M Lever i0! may be the gas throttle lever for the vehicle motor or a lever provided solely for the present purpose. It is here assumed, however, that the lever is the clutch pedal of the motor vehicle. When the latter is the case and a pressure responsive servo device is used for actuating the clutch a second line, 50, extends from valve chamber 55 so that when valve 62 is moved to the left, vacuum pressure will be supplied to the clutch device through line 50 at the same'time that operating pressure is supplied through line I to the control shifting mechanism.

When pedal I ill is depressed from its rest position, spring 55 expands slightly while'sprlng 56 device for the gear purpose the inlet end of line is further compressed until the, two opposingv "springs act equally against piston 53. As lever is moved, therefore, shaft 81 is drawn to the left to move valve 42 from its right seat 44 to its left seat 66. chamber43 is thereupon supplied to lines i and 58 through chamber 45 so that operation of both the control devicc,as shown in Figure 1, and the clutch actuating mechanism (not shown) is initiated. The throw of valve 42 is very short but after it reaches its left seat lever I 0| can be further depressed through movement of piston 53 against spring 54.

When lever llll is moved back in the opposite direction, piston 53 adjusts itself in casing 5| until the pressure of springs .54 and 55 is about equalized, and valve 41 is then moved back to its'right seat 44. At such time vacuum pressure Vacuum pressure from line in supplied to line i.

llll is drawn back to its rest position by spring I22 is engaged by ear Illl' on the lever.

As in the, case of Figure 2 the present device may be utilized to control operation of a servo clutch mechanism, and in such case line 50 connecting with the clutch operating mechanism will extend from valve chamber 5|. Further, the device may be utilized to control the supply of shifting pressure which is supplied to the device of Figure 1 through line 5, and for such 6 communicates with valve chamber 6|.

Lever i8! is shown in a depressed position, at which time vacuum is supplied from line 40 to both lines 5. and 50, but is cut oflt' from line 8 since valve 57 is in its right end position. When lever ml is released rod 54 will be moved to the and 50 as well as line i will be cut off from chamber 58 and line Ell. When pedal 1 is again depressed rod 54 moves to the right, spring 58 somewhat expands, and rod 33 and valve 51 are moved to the right under the action of'spring 58. During movement of valve 51 from its left to its right seat, partial vacuum is momentarily The control device is operated to produce a shifting operation, of the shifting mechanism. Simultaneously vacuum is sup-- plied through lines B and 50. Thesupply to the latter lines is continued after valve 51 reaches its end seat, but in to line i is cut the latter position the pressure off. The comparatively short period of supply of partial vacuum to line i suffices, .however, to initiate the shifting operation,

understood that the operation 01 since it will be the control device, as shown in Figure 1, is quite rapid.

In the several operating devices illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the operating'lever may also be connected to the supply valve mechanism through a frictional coupling connection as shown and described in Karl Maybach U. S. application Serial No. 160,916, filed August 25, 1937, instead of through the rod and spring lost motion mechanism hereshown. t

Figure 4-' ;showsa control device wherein, ac-.

The supply line which will ,line 8 is thereupon .line 6 and available in chamber II is then cording to the present invention, the shifting pressure control valve is held in open position and moved from open to closed position in dependency on the shifting pressure. Whereas in Figure l a single acting control valve is employed, in the present construction the control valve is of a double acting type in accordance with the general arrangement forming the subject-matter of the copending application of Karl Maybach,

- Carl Bottner, Eugen Glucker and Gustav Meyer,

Serial No. 172,020, filed October 30, 1937. The

, from open to closed position subject to the control by the shifting pressure.

.Referring now to Figure 4, the double acting valve controlling the supply of operating pressure to the gear shifting mechanism (not shown) is indicated at I08, the same being housed ina valve chamber I3. In its right end position face I of the valve engages valve seat I000, to 'close off a smaller chamber Id from valve chamber I3. In the left end position of the control valve, valve face IIO will engage valve seat IIOa. to close off the smaller chamber I2 from chamber I3. Partial vacuum for operating the shifting gear mechanism will enter the control device through line 6 and passes therefrom through chamber 94 and passage I06 to the right chamber I4. When valve I08 is in open position the pressure medium from line 6 will be transmitted through chambers I4. I3 and I2 to conduit II. The pressure responsive gear shifting mechanism and the pressure distributing valve mechanism for effecting selective operation thereof to produce different gear selections in a motor vehicle gear transmission are well known in the art and have not been shown. It will be understood that conduit II supplies operating pressure thereto under control of valve I08.

Valve I00 is supported by a slide rod I0 and spring H5. The valve actuating mechanism -includes piston I8 slidable inchamber II which acts against the right end of rod I0, and a second piston 80 in chamber M which through slide pin I9 serves to move piston 18, rod I0 and valve I08. Chamber BI is of less depth than chamber II so that piston 80 has a shorter stroke than piston I8.

Actuating pressure, here partial vacuum, for initiating opening of valve I08 is supplied through line I under control of an operating lever through an arrangement such, for example, as illustrated in Figure 2 or 3. The operating pressure in line I is transmitted through its branch 66, and through lines 58, 83 and 82 to chamber 8|. Piston 80 is thereupon moved to its left end position to move valve I08 to its intermediate open position in chamber I3. Shifting pressure from to the'gear shifting mechanism. When valve I08 reaches its intermediate open position, groove II in slide rod I0 is cut off from line .68, but such groove now provides communication between line I02 extending from valve chamber I3 and line 83; Shifting pressure supplied from transmitted through line II.

I line II to cause operationof the shifting mech- I is normally. held in its right endposition by plied through lines I62, 83 and 82 to chamber U to act on piston and hold valve I08 in its intermediate open position against the force of spring II5.

The actuating mechanism for valve I08 is caused to operate in dependency on the shifting pressure through the slide valve'arran'gement shown in the lower portion of the housing. Therein is located a slide valve 84 having therein a groove which establishes communication between lines 83 and 82 when valve I08 is initially moved from its right closed end position to intermediate open position by its actuating mechanism upon movement of the operating lever. A piston I1 is provided at the left end of rod 84 in chamber 20, and the same is normally held in its left end position by spring 49., Line 2 communicating with chamber I2 at the left of valve chamber I3 supplies shifting pressure, here partial vacuum, from line 6 to chamber 2d of piston II through a throttling orifice 2I, chamber 28 and port 29. When valve I08 has been moved to its open position by piston to partial vacuum is transmitted through line I02, and after a short tiine the vacuum reaches a point in chamber 20 to cause piston II to move to the right. The delay in the operation of piston II after valve I08 is opened is determined by the size of orifice 21, and with the view that valve I08 will not be allowed to close until after suflicient shifting pressure has been transmitted through anism.

left end position will occur when suiiicient shifting pressure acts in chamber 20 to move piston I I to the right. In the right position of piston II a groove, 86, in slide valve 80 provides communication between a second branch, 65, of the actuating pressure supply! line I and line 69 which leads to chamber |I'\ of the second piston I8. Partial vacuum from line I is thus transmitted to move piston I8 to the extreme left, thereby moving the control valve I08 against its left end seat IIOa. The supply of shifting pressure from line 6 to line II is thus cut off. Similarly the supply of shifting pressure acting on piston II is also cut oif.

When rod I0 has moved valve I08 to its closed leakage through port 3I around the piston II.

Thereupon piston I! will be moved back to its left end position through spring 49, thus closing valve 85 and cutting off the supply of vacuum to piston 18 through line 69; On the other hand, when valve I08 has reached its left end position, radial bore I3 and its surrounding annular groove I4 are registry with line 68, and through the axial bore I2 and the second radial bore I5 actuating pressure from the first branch, 66, of line I is supplied to chamber 11 to hold piston I8 in its left position and maintain valve I08 in'its left closed end .position against th action of spring H5. I 4

Through the arrangement as described it will be seen that the actuating pressure, partial vacu movement of the operating lever in one direction, initially acts through lines 65, 68, 83 and .82 and piston 00 to move the shifting pressure which is supplied through line I upon 85' and 88 and the second piston I8 to move the control valve from its intermediate open to its left closed end position. Finally, when valve I08 has reached the latter position and piston I! has again moved to the left, actuating pressure, now through lines 88 and 88, and bores I8, 12 and I8, continues to act onpiston I8 to holdthe control valve I08 in its left closed end position. It will be observed that once the operating lever has been depressed to initiate the supply of actuating pressure through line I, no further movement of the lever has been necessary since the distribution of the actuating 'pressure for causing the closing of the control valve, and the maintenance of such valve in its left position, is entirely automatic by reason left end of chamber 88. When an operating off of its seat at the same time pressure is transmitted through lines 88, 88 and 82 to operate piston 80. Thereupon pressure from line 8 is transmitted through line 88 to actuate the clutch at the same time valve I08 is opened to supply pressure through line It to operate the gear shifting mechanism. Again, when the opof the provision of the arrangement just des.

' scribed. It will further be understood from the erating lever is released to vent line I,lchamber 89 is similarly vented. Piston 8i thereupon moves to the right and allows valve 9! to close under the action of its spring 82 so that no further operating pressure is transmitted to the clutch mechanism.

In Figure 4, in addition to the parts heretofore described, there is a series of ports 88, 8? and 98, the same respectively communicating with "the chambers at the right ends of slide rod at,

- shifting pressure control valve in open position bores 15, I2 and I8, and lines 68, 86 and I.

- sides the shifting pressure itself. An arrange- Piston I8 then moves partially to the right under the action of spring H8 until valve I88 reaches its intermediate open position. At such time shifting pressure from chamber I8 is transmitted through lines I02, 03 and 82, so that piston 80 is in its left end position and prevents valve I08 from moving 'on to its right end closed position.

piston '58 and piston 80 .so that such parts may be operated satisfactorily without adverse pressure influences.

In some cases it may be desirable to hold the and allow the same to move on to closed position. in dependency on an additional factor bement for such purpose is shown in' Figure 5 as .applied to a control device-of the construction A further shifting operation is possible while valve I08 is in its open position. After the valve is opened, partial vacuum from chambers I8 and I2 acts through line 2 and in a very short time causes piston H to move to the right. At such time groove 85 in slide rod 86 is cut off from line 88 and connects line 82 with port 95. The partial vacuum existing in chamber 8I'is thus dissipated releasing valve 88 and allowing the control valve I08 to be moved'against its right end seat under the action of spring 155.

The shifting cycle has now been completed and valve I08 will not be further actuated until the operating lever is again moved in its first of Figure 4 just described. As in Figure 4 the shifting pressure fromvalve chamber I8 con-.

trols slide valve 88 through piston I! in chamber 20. In the present case, however, the pa'ssage of shifting pressure from valve chamber I8 after -opening of the shifting pressure control valve I08 is subject to control by a slide valve I24 interposed between lines 2a from chamber I2, and line 2b through which the shifting pressure is transmitted through throttling orifice 2i, chamber 28 andport 29 to chamber 20 of -piston I i.

Slide valve I28 is actuatable by piston I28 in I chamber I28. In the position shown piston I20, is yieldingly held in its left position by spring direction, as originally, to supply partial vacuum f the valve through piston I8.

Where it is desired to control operation of the vehicle clutch through the same operating lever as initiates action of the control device, a control valve for the clutch mechanism may be incorporated in the control device proper, in lieu of the arrangement of the clutch pressure sup ply line 50 in association with the lever operated valves in the constructions shown in Figures 2 and 3/ This is illustrated in the upper portion of the embodiment of Figure 4., Valve 8I in chamber 94 is yieldingly held against its seat by spring 92., Extendingfrom chamber 98 to the right of chamber 94 is a vacuumpressure line I88 which will connect with the clutch actuating device. In chamber 88 is an actuating piston 81 yieldingly held in its right end. position by a spring 88. Port 99 communicates with chamber 89' at the right end of the piston,' and line 81 opening off of branch 68 of the. actuating pressure line I communicates with the IZI. A vacuum pressure line Q28 communicates with the right end of chamber I28. Groove I25 in slide valve I28 provides'communication between lines 2a and 2b, and in the position shown shifting pressure will be supplied as soon as valve I08 opens to gradually build up in chamber 20 and actuate piston II.- However, if and when vacuum pressure is supplied through line I29, piston I20 moves slide valve I28 to the right to cut on. the supply of shifting pressure to line 21). Such pressurecan not act on piston I! to move slide valve 84 to the right and eifect clos- .ing of control valve I08, as heretofore explained,

until line I29 is vented and slide valve I24 moves back to its left position. Ports I28 at the left end and piston no and m at the right end of slide valve I24 provide for the-proper operation of these parts by avoiding the efiect of adverse pressure influences. Port I28 additionally provides for the dissipation of vacuum pressure existing in chamber I28 aroundv piston I20 when the supply through line I29 is out on.

The arrangement shown in Figure 51: useful in enabling the closingof the shifting pressure controLvalve I08 to be controlled in dependency on conditions in the gear transmission during the shifting operation. It is desirable. of course, that control valve I08 should not close until the gear parts which are to provide the new gear selection have been brought into complete engagement. Through known devices arrangement may be made to supply partial vacuum through line I29 to effect closing of slide valve I24 during the time the shifting operation is in progress and the cutting off of the supply through line I29 as soon as engagement of the gear parts hasbeen completed, whereupon with the dissipation of vacuum in chamber I28 piston I20 will move to parts to be engaged and thus hasten completion of the shifting operation. Such auxiliary devices on the one hand may be caused to speed up the slower moving gear part, and on the other to slow down the faster moving gear part. Where a vacuum pressure operated auxiliary device is provided to slow down a slower moving gear part, line I29 may be connected therewith so as to simultaneously receive a vacuum supply and be vented when such device is vented after the respective gear parts are brought to the same speed and come into final engagement.

In the embodiment of Figure 6 the shifting pressure control valve is of the double acting 'typeas in the embodiment of Figure 4. Another form of actuating mechanismia utilized to operate the valve, and there is a different arrangement for holding the control valve open and subsequently providing for the closing thereof in dependency on the shifting pressure. Also, the parts, whlch in the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3, are constructed separately, in the present construction are built into the casing of the control device. There are turther difierences from the embodiment of Figure 4 as hereafter explained.

Referring now to Figure 6, the shifting pressure control valve is as before designated its and operates in chamber I3. In its right end position such valve again through seat 889 engages seat I090: to close ofl chamber I l, and its left end position through engagement of its seat IIO with seat IIOa closes ofi chamber i2. Also, spring H5 tends to yieldingly hold valve W8 against its right end seat. Partial vacuum is supplied from a suitable source through line 6 and is transmitted through passage 262, chamber 231 and angular passage I20 to chamber is at the right of valve chamber I3. -Line 6 also, in the present construction supplies partial vacuum for operating the actuating mechanism of the cor 1-= trol valve.

For the latter purpose a valve 235 is provided in chamber 237 which in its right end position closes a small chamber 230 through the action of spring 236. Vaive235 has a stem 23% supported in bore 232 of a slide rod 23!. The operating lever IOI"is here indicated as constituting the rod I05 is in its left position as shown, and when lever IOI is depressed rod 805 moves to the right.

Rod I05 acts through slide rod 236 to hold valve 235 open. Under such conditions pressure from .line 6 passes through chamber 231 to chamber 238 and thence through line I to the actuating mechanism of the control valve I00 hereafter to be described.

When operating lever MI is depressed slide rod 23I moves to the right with rod I05 under the action of spring 235, causing valve 235 to close. An angular bore 243 at the left end of rod 23I is uncovered by movement of such rod to the right relative to the now stationary stem 23d of valve 235. In the same .movement a radialbore 239 connecting with groove 240 is brought into registry with a vent 2. The operating pressure, here partial vacuum, previously existing in line I and chamber 238 is thereby dissipated through bores 2E3, 232, 239 and vent The pressure responsive means for actuating the shifting pressure control valve I08 comprises a slide rod I26, the right hand portion of which extends into an actuating piston I32.dispo'sed in chamber I83. A head at the end of rod I20 is yieldingly held in engagement with the left end of piston I32 by spring 389. A vent I34 opens into the right end of chamber I33. Line I which supplies partial vacuum from line e under control of valve 235 and lever iili connects with the left end of chamberitt. The transmission of vacuum pressure through line ltd causes piston I32 to move to the left end position, in which it is shown, whereupon rocl I29 urges valve I08 from its right towards its left seat. when the vacuum pressure in line IN shifting pressure.

During movement of valve 589 in either direction between its right and left closed and positions, the valve is temporarily held in its intermediate open position in dependency on the shifting pressure. In the present case positive locking mechanism acting on slide rod 528 is provided, the same being controlled by the Such mechanism includes a latch pin IGI supported by a spring itr in the upwardly projecting portion 5% of a piston S66. Piston- I64 is supported by suitable guide means in chamber I14 by a spring I55.

In rod I25 is a deep groove I2? bordered on each side by the respective shallower grooves I 28 and I29. When piston are is in its right end p0Sltion latch pin I69 engages groove I28, and in the left end position of the valve the pin engages groove I29. During the course of movement of the valve in either direction, pin I65 under the action of, spring m2 drops into the deep groove I21 so as to temporarily hold valve I98 in its intermediate open position. Valve rod I26 can not then move to either closed end positionuntil latch gas pedal of the vehicle motor, the same operating through the spring device 203 to actuate the against the head of slide rod I05. When lever IN is in its rest positl0n against stop I03 slide pin IGI is released from groove I21 through downward movement of piston I68 through the shifting pressure as will hereafter be explained.

When valve I08 is in its intermediate open position shifting pressure transmitted from line G'to chamber I4 enters chamber I3 and passes into chamber I2. From chamber I2 pressure is transmitted through line II to actuatethe shifting mechanism. The gear speed selecting valve device for so distributing the shifting pressure to the parts of the shifting mechanism that different gear selections can be brought about at will is shown in the present instance in association with the control device housing. Lines I48, I49, I60, II and I 52 represent lines leading to the difierent pressure responsive motors of the gear housing I53. By rotating the distributor disc I38 to diflerent settings the supply of partial vacuum to and the venting of the linesto the different shifting motors may be changed to correspond to different gear selections.

At the same time that partial vacuum is supplied through line II upon the opening of valve I08, partial vacuum is simultaneously supplied through line 22I, slide valve 222 and throttling orifice I to chamber I16. Slide valve 222 has therein an axial bore I66 which in the position of the valve shown communicates through a radial bore Ill and annular groove 226 with line 221. The flow of partial vacuum into chamber I14 is retarded by throttling orifice I10 with a view that there will be a time delay, though very slight before the degree of vacuum in the chamber will be suificiently great to cause piston I64 to move downwardly for the purpose of releasing latch pin I6I and allowing slide rod I26 to move to close valve I68.

It will be seen that latch pin I6! serves to hold valve I08 inits intermediate open position and releases to allow the valve to close in dependency on the shifting pressure which acts through piston I66. As in the embodiment of Figure 5, however, the periodvalve I08 remains open and the time the valve closes are made dependent on additional factors than the shifting pressure through the provision of slide valve 222, heretopartial vacuum through lines 226 and 221 will preferably be conditions in the gear transmission itself during the shiftingoperation. It is known to provide auxiliary devices in connection with gear transmissions for speeding up the slower and slowing down the faster of two gears.so that the toothed clutch parts through which such gears are brought into driving engagement can be brought to final engagement more rapidly. In German Patent 569,392 of Maybach-Motorenbau, for example, is shown an auxiliary device for slowing down a faster moving gear part through 'a pressure responsive brake controlled by a valve which opens to supply braking pressure prepara-' tory to engagement of the gears .to beconnected and which closes to discontinue the braking action when the clutch portions of the respective gears have moved into final engagement. Again, in German Patent 569,393 of 'Maybach-Motorenban is shown an arrangement through which the vehicle motor is accelerated to increase the speed of a slower moving clutch part under control of a similar type valve which opens preliminarily to final engagement of the clutch portions of the gears andoloses to slow down the vehicle motor 'when the gears have been brought into final engagement. Such types of devices arediagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 6. A servo motor 2I2 has therein a piston 2M normally held in its raised position by spring 2I3. Above the piston isa vent 2 I1. Piston rod 2I5 upon downward movement of the piston serves to tighten a brake ing operation of piston 2M is supplied through are mentioned, which controls the supply of 4 shifting pressure'to chamber I16, and, secondly,

through the provision of a vacuum pressure sup-' ply line 221 connecting with a space at the upper end of piston I64, to hold the piston in raised position. Slide valve 222 is yieldingly held in its left position by spring I68, at which time shifting pressure from line 22I is transmitted to' chamber I16, and is provided with an actuating piston I66 responsive to vacuum pressure'introduced through line 22a to cut ofi line 221 and vent chamber I14 through bores I10 and "I of slide valve 222 and a port 229 in the housing which in the right hand position of the slide valve registers with bore I1I.

line 225 from line 22I when slide valve 222 is in its right end position, at which time groove 223 establishes communication between lines 22I and ,valve 222 operating pressure is suppliedthrough line 225 to the braking piston 2I4, and to chamber I14 to act on piston I64, alternately-in the opposite end positions of slide valve 222. When pressure is being supplied through line 225 cham-- ber I14 is being vented through bore HI and port 229. When pressure is being supplied through bore "I to chamber I16, line 225 is vented It will be seen that when vacuum pressure is I supplied through either or both of lines 226 and 221 piston I64 will remainin itsraised position and operate through latch pin I6I to hold the shifting pressure control valve I08 in the open position shown in the drawings. Vacuum pressure supplied through line 221 acts directly on piston -I64 and coacts with spring I65 to hold the piston up even though slide valve 222 is in its left position so that'shitting pressure from line 22I is being supplied to chamber I14 to act on the lower end of the piston. Again, when vacuum pressure is supplied through line 226 slide valve 222 is held in its right end position so that shifting pressure from line 22I is cut of! and piston I64 can not then move downwardly regardless of whether or not. vacuum pressure is being supplied through line 221.

The factors which will control the supply or through port 228. e

The supply of vacuum-to and venting-of line I 226 for moving piston I66 of slide valve 222 back move to the right and, assuming that the shifting pressure control ,valve I06 is now open, vacuum pressure will be supplied through lines HI and 225 to efiect operation of the braking device parts 2 and 2I6. As soon as the gear parts have been engaged the supply of vacuum to line 228 will be cut oil, and piston I66 will move back to the left venting line 225 and disengagingthe mission gear to be engaged. At such time, through line 593 branching off of line 221, vacuum pressure is supplied to diaphragm I96 of the pressure responsive device I95. Such diaphragm through rod I91 serves to open gas throttle valve 2% in carburetor 202, this being accomplished by reason of the spring device 203 without afiecting the gas. pedal IOI.' When as -to engagement of the clutch parts of the transa result the slower moving gear part has been speeded up through the vehicle motor and the two gear parts finallyengaged, the control valve for line til, which may be similar to control valve 20 in Figure l of German Patent 569,393, will close and line 221 will be vented. The throttling valve 295 will close to slow down the motor.

At the some time vacuum is supplied through branch 593 to open the throttle valve 20I, vacuum is supplied through line 221 to act on the upper side of piston I64. Until line 221 is vented upon complete engagement of the gears, piston 35% is held in its. upper position so that through latch pin iGI the shifting pressure control valve 30% remains open to continue the supply of shifting pressure to the gearshift mechanism. If, when line 221 is vented, slide valve 222 is in its left end position and vacuum already exists in chamber I14, piston I54 will immediately-move down and valve I08 will close. If slide valve 222 is in its right end position vacuum pressure can not be supplied to chamber lid until the valve moves to the left so that there will be a time delay before piston I64 movesdownwardly to eiiect the: closing of valve I08.

The complete operation of the device shown in Figure '6 will now be described. Assuming that the gas pedal IOI is depressed, as during normal driving, slide pins I05 and 23I are in their right hand positions and valve 235 is closed. The shifting pressure control valve- I08 will be in its right closed end position against seat I03a. Shifting pressure is cut of! from the gear shifting mechanism and also from the actuating mechanism for valve I08. If now pedal III Ti's released, slide rods I05 and 23I move-to thefileft.

it will be noted that the movement of slide pin i935 besides opening valve 235 also opens a second valve 599 disposed between the adjoining ends of rods its and 23L Chamber H1 is thus opened to the supply of partial vacuum from line 5.

Through line I83 vacuum pressure may thus be supplied to operate a servo device for the main vehicle clutch. Valve H8 during the time lever ml was depressed closes oil chamber II1 from chamber H8, end I25 of rod I05 moves to the to chamber.-v I14.

. vacuum exists in chamber I14, piston I54 can chamber 231, passage I20, chambers I4, I3 and I2 to line H, and from thence to the gear shifting mechanism.-

The release of latch pin I69 will not occur until shifting pressure from chamber I2 is supplied through line 2| and slide valve 222 to chamber I14. Assuming that during the course of operation of the shifting mechanism vacuum pressure is suppliedto line 226, piston I68 and slide valve 222 quickly assume their right hand position and vacuum pressure from line 22I is' supplied through groove 223 and line 225 to operate the braking device 2I5. At such time the supply of vacuum pressure is cut ofl from piston I54. When the gear parts have reached final engagement, the supply of vacuum to line 225 will be cut of! and the vacuum pressure acting on piston I55 will be vented. Slide valve 222 will move to its left hand position, venting line 225 through port 228 and releasing the braking device 2". At such time vacuum pressurefrom line 22I will be transmitted through bores I1! and I53 As soonas the vacuum in chamber I14- has reached a sufficient degree, the delay being determined by the sire of throttling orifice I10, piston I54 will be ready to move downwardly.

During the shifting operation, it has been assumed that the vehicle motor has been speeded up to accelerate the slower moving gear part to be engaged. Until the gears have been finally engaged vacuum pressure will exist in line 221 to hold piston I84 in its raised position. If, therefore, vacuum still exists in line 221 when not move downwardly until line 221 is vented. That is to say, the auxiliary devices for both speeding up and slowing down the respective gear parts to be engaged must both have beenv rendered inoperative before shifting pressure supplied to chamber I14 can cause piston I54 to move downwardly. When the latter does occur, latch pin I8I will be released from groove I21 and slide rod I28 will move control valve I08 into engagement with its left end seat IIIIa under the action of spring I30.

when valve I08 has reached its closed position,

the supply of shifting pressure will be cut of! from line II. Similarly the supply to line 22I will be cutoff. The vacuum previously acting in chamber I14 will shortly be dissipated so that latch pin I5I will be caused to bear against groove I28.

right away from valve, H3, and line I83 to the clutch device is vented to the atmosphere through grooves I01 and H4 in rod I05, and

groove II2 and port H3 in the housing. Spring lit tends to hold valve II8 against its'seat; At

Assuming now that pedal m is depressed, valve 235 willplose and the supply of shifting pressure will becutofl from line I44. At such time bore 233' will be brought in registry with vent 24I, groove 243 will be uncovered, and throuh'such series of openings and line I44, the vacuum acting on piston I32 will be dissipated. Valve I03 will accordingly move from its left end position towards the right under the action .of spring II5. Pin III will again drop in groove I21 to momentarily hold valve I33 in its open position. Shifting pressure will againbe supplied to the shifting mechanism, but no further operation thereof will occur unless before the pedal is released a new gear selection has been set. Valve 222 will be in its left position-and vacuum will be supplied through line III to move piston I downwardly. As soon as the latter occurs control valve I08 will move on' back to its right end closed position.

It will be understood, of course, that depression of lever llll not only closes. valve 235 to eiiect operation of the control device parts as just explained, but at the same time closes valve 9 and causes the vehicle clutch to be engaged.

aase,

by venting of line I83 through port 3 and bores I01 and ill. The shifting cycle is now complete.

It will be understood that while in Figure 6 the closing of the shiitingpressure control valveiiil has been made dependent upon both an auxiliary slowing down device and an auxiliary speeding up device for the gear transmission,

both of such devices in practice may not in fact beused with the same transmission. Figure 6. however, illustrates that the control device of the present invention may include provision for effecting .the closing of the shifting pressure control valve in dependencyon either or both of such types of auxiliary devices in accordance with the conditions prevailing in the gear trans! mission as well as indepenclency on the shifting pressure itseli.

The invention may be embodied in a variety of diflferent forms as will be evident from the several diii'erent constructions herein shown and; described. The protection aflorded the invention is therefore to be determined from the scope of the appended claims since the embodiments disclosed are merely illustrative.

-I claim:

1; A control device for pressure-operated shifting mechanism, actuating means for said valve responsive to an actuating pressure, means operating'independently oi the shifting pressure -ior supplying pressure to the valve actuating means to open the valve and means responsive to the shifting pressure controlling the further supply of actuating ating means.

2. A control device ior pressure-operated gear shifting mechanism including a valve for controlling the supp y of shifting pressure to the shifting mechanism, a supply of actuating pressure. means operating independently or the shitting pressure controlling said supply. and actuating means for said valve actuatable by said actuating pressure to open the valve and acted on thereafter by the shifting pressure to hold the A valve open.

3. A control device for pressure-operated gear shifting mechanism including a valve for conshiiting mechanism, actuating means ior'the valve operated by an actuating pressure, leveroperated means operating independently oi theshitting pressure for initiating the supplyoi actuating pressure to;'the actuating means, and

control means-responsive to the-shitting pressure for cutting oil the supply of actuating pressure to the actuating means.

' .4. A control device for pressure operated gear ating means to open the valve, 'andmeans responsive-to the shifting pressure becoming operative when the valve has opened for controlling the further supply of pressure to the actuating means for closing the valve independently oi the lever operated means. v

5. A control device iorpressure-operated gear shifting mechanism including a valve for controlling the supply oi shifting pressure to the shifting mechanism, pressure-operated actuating means for the valve, lever-operated means operating independently of the shifting pressure for initiating the supply or pressure to the actuating means for opening the valve, and; valve means responsive to the shifting pressure coming into operation when the valve opens and controlling the further-supp y of pressure to the actuating means for closing thevalve.

6. A control device for pressure-operated gear shifting mechanism including a valve. for controlling the supply oishiitingpressure-to the shifting mechanism, pressure-operated actuating 'means operated by an actuating pressure to open the. valve, valve means responsive to the shifting pressure becoming operative upon the opening of the valve to cut oi! the supp y of actuating pressure and to cause shitting, pressureto act on the actuating means to hold the-valve inlopen position, and further valve means op-.

erating in dependency .on the shifting pressure controlling the-closing of the valve.

7. A control device for pressure-operated gear shitting mechanism including a valve for controlling the supply oi shifting pressure to the shittgear 1 shifting mechanism including a valve 'for controlling the supply of shifting pressure to the pressure-to the valve actu- '60 the supp y of shifting pressure to the shitting mechanism. including a valve for controlling the supply of shifting pressure to the shifting mechanism, pressure-operated actuating means for the valve. lever-operated means shifting for initiating the supply oi pressureto the actutrolling j ating in dependency on the delay the closing or the valve.

ing mechanism, pressure-operated actuating means for the valve, lever-operated means operating independently of the shitting pressure for initiating the supply of pressure to the actuating means for opening the valve, and a control member actuatable by the shifting pressure controlling the supplv of pressure to the valve actuatingmeans.

- 8. Acontrol device for pressure-operated gear shitting mechanism including a valve for controlling the supply of shitting pressure to the shifting mechanism, lever controlled means operating independently or the shifting pressure-to .open the valve, pressure-responsive means for holding the valve open and a control membermeans for the valve, and means controlling the" supply of pressure tothe actuating means opershiiting'pressure to 10. A control device iorpressure-operated gear shitting mechanism including a valve for controlling the. supply or shitting pressure to the shitting mechanism, pressure-operated actuating means for moving the valve from closed to open position, i'urther pressure-operated actuating means for-moving the valve from open to closed position, and control means operated by the shifting pressure alternately supplying pres- .sure to the several actuating means.

11-.. A controldev'ice ro'r pressure-operated gear mechanism including a valve i'or consupn v o! h t ns precsure to the shifting mechanism, actuating means for the valve, control means operable by the shifting pressure controlling the closing or the valve, a pres sure supply line, and pressure operated valve means operated independently of the shifting pressure by pressure supplied by said line temporarily preventing delivery of shifting pressure to said control means.

12. A control'device for pressure-operated gear shifting mechanism including a valve for controlling the supply of shifting pressure to the shifting mechcanism, actuating means for the valve.

control means operable by the'shiiting pressure controlling the closing of the valve, a pressure supply line, and pressure operated valve means operated by pressure supplied by said line when the shifting pressure control valve is open to' temporarily out ofl,the supply of shifting pressure to said control means. I

13. A control device for pressure-operated gear shifting mechanism including a valve for controlling the supply of shifting pressure to the shift-- ling the supply of shifting pressure to the shifting mechanism, actuating means for the valve,

' and means controlling closing of the valve, said control means including a pressure-operated con trol member controlling closing of the valve, a line for supplying shifting pressure to operate said control member, a second pressure-operated control member controlling closing of the valve,

and a second supply line adapted to supply pressure to said second control member independently of the shitting pressure.

' GUSTAV MEYER. 

